Page 50 of Tempting Fate

Notch this oversight at the top of my list of failures today.

“Shhhh, metukà shelì. It’s just me. You’re safe now,” I croon, rocking her in my embrace.

Lily startles, then she pulls my arm tighter around her waist and laces our fingers together.

“I thought I could cope,” she confesses in a tear-stained voice. “I thought he’d never be able to get in my head again.”

“It’s fucked, Cherub. You shouldn’t have to go through this.” I pause to press a kiss to the back of her head. “But I watched you beat him once, and I know you’ll do it again.”

“I hope you’re right.”

Even though my own doubts have hold of me tonight, I force myself to respond with certainty. “I’m right, sweet thing… you’re tougher than the lot of us.”

When Lily remains silent, I rock us back and forth. The trembling finally subsides after a while, her body relaxes, and she works to stifle a yawn.

“I love you,” she whispers.

“I know, metukà shelì. I love you too. More than I can put into words.” When Lily yawns a second time, I squeeze her gently and press another kiss against her hair. “Go back to sleep. Everythin’ will look better in the mornin’.”

The words are ill-fitting as they leave my mouth, and I pray that Lily doesn’t realise that I’m lying to her yet again. She deserves to have the rest of the night to lick her wounds in peace instead of fretting over what’s coming.

But that’s all I’m able to give her.

Because, on top of my gut feeling that she’s withholding the full details of her kidnapping from me, we’re also dealing with Brutus spiralling out of control and the Shamrocks splitting into two factions in response to his escalating madness. It’s been going on for a while, although I’m not fool enough to believe that it’s a coincidence that our prez appears to be spoiling for a fight with me at the precise moment Alex returns to fuck with Lily. His deteriorating mood occurring on the same day that I discover we have a rat or two in our ranks isn’t a fluke either.

So, yeah, it’s doubtful anything will look better in the daylight.

In fact, as I lay in bed holding my sleeping woman, tired as fuck, yet unable to sleep, I realise that everything is likely to get a whole lot worse in the morning.

9

LILY

The aroma of coffee rouses me from my sleep. Arms over my head, I stretch, then wince when my sore ribs twinge and every muscle in my body screams from the abuse I suffered yesterday. Despite the low, throbbing pain, I slept a lot better than I thought I would once I managed to get back to sleep. No doubt, the quality of my slumber is directly related to the strong arms that were wrapped around me all night.

My nightmares lose their power when Zeke is holding me.

“Lilianna, I’ve brought you some coffee.” Charlie’s soft voice has me opening my eyes in a flash. Well, one and a half eyes since my left eye remains partially swollen shut. “And two of the Panadeine Forte that Doc left for you last night. He also gave me some anti-inflammatories... which you definitely need.”

Rolling quickly onto my side and pushing myself into a sitting position, I bite the inside of my cheek to stop my stiff movements from alerting her to the soreness in my body is as well. Charlotte Hannaford mightn’t have become part of my life until I was thirteen, and we both acknowledge that she’ll never replace my mother, however there is a little niche in my heart that belongs to her.

She’s a softy and seeing me in pain will hurt her.

“Careful. Take your time,” she admonishes me in a mothering tone.

I roll my eyes at her, then grimace at the pain that radiates through my bruised face. Charlie grins at my reaction. Not because she’s sadistic—she’s just always telling me not to roll my eyes at everyone. Apparently, reading my mind, she shakes her head at me, then holds out the steaming mug she’s brought into the bedroom.

Gratefully taking the proffered hot coffee and medication out of her hands, I swallow the tablets with a big gulp of much-needed caffeine. A visible shudder of delight runs through me, and Charlie laughs.

Although my lip hurts, I join her. I’m not ashamed to admit my addiction to the rich brown substance. Sure, everyone likes to tease me about my dependency. It’s a running joke in my family that the main reason I’m marrying Zeke is because he’s the only person I’ve been able to train to bring me my morning coffee in bed.

I don’t think they quite understand how well rewarded he is for his service.

I definitely employ an incentive system.

“What’s the time?” I ask once the coffee has kicked my brain into gear. “Where’s Zeke?”

“It’s just past midday. They’re gone on club business.” Charlie makes air quotes around the last two words. “Most of them went with your dad, although we still have babysitters and lockdown continues.”

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